Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-09-08
NOTES.

One of che greatest drawbacks to be-
ginners in poultry raising is to attempt
to keep fifty fowls IN house or lot none
too large FOR twenty-five.
Seventy-fve years ago the first toma-
toes grown in this country were cultivat-
ed as a strange and snowy horticultural
curiosity in a garden in Salem, Mass.
Authorities differ as to the best time to
cut hay. AS rule, farmers wait too long
before cutting, and to strike it Just right
requires Judgment and experience.
Save the wood ashes to use as fertil-
izer. 1t is more profitable than to sell
them to the soap-naker. Wood ashes
never come amiss on the farm or in the
garden.
The Suffolk sheep, as claimed by their
friends, have few superiors as a mutton
sheep. They make extraordinary weights
and are popular in England. They are
hardy and good grazers.
The fruits of Southern California are
said to find an easy market at Chicago
and points west. Very little is obliged to
come into competition with foreign and
southern fruits at eastern centers.
At 60 days of age, says an exchange,
lambs will net from So to S. or more a
head, according to quality; and the bust
ness is just as proper as to keep them two
or three years to sell them for the same
price per head as wethers.
During the last season, it has been said,
075 pounds of beets we've necessary to
produce 100 pounds of sugar in Germany,
whereas in 1884, 1,O51 pounds of beets
were necessary to permit the extraction
of 100 pounds of sugar.
Hogs are excellent cleaners of the
wheat fields. We have never observed
any ill effects upon the animals if there
is plenty of clover and water as we'll as
some wheat in the field. Sheep, on the
other hand, we should hardly care to
trust on the stubbles.
There are nearly 100000 bushels of
fax-seed annually grown in the State of
Iowa, and the oil cake is very largely ex-
ported. II it pays our English feeders
to have oil cake shipped from Iowa to
England to feed to their stock, perhaps
we do not fully appreciate it's salur, as a
food.
Horses put to hard work will almost
surely show puffy spots Under the harness
which will soon make bad gals if neglect
ed. Lift the harness and battle spots with
cold water when the team rests at evening
Make sure that collars especial fit well,
and are smooth and hard.
Poultry yards should be on sandy soil,
| If possible, in order to avoid mud or slush
on the ground, as roup is liable to break
out in t1ocks that are kept on damp Ioca-
tions. The yards should be well drained,
the surface covered with sharp, fine
gravel, and cleaned off at least once every
two weeks where the flock is large.
Experiments in England show that by
| caponizing cockerel on the right side
and removing tie right member, his pro-
geny will consist entirely of puliets, while
by caponizing on the left side the pro-
geny will consist entirely of cockerels.
If this be true our poultrymen will here
after be able TO produce preponderence
of either sex, as preferred.
| The farmer should make his own bacon.
The September and October pigs will
! come just right to turn into bacon. Fee d
| them IN the autumn on apples and roots
with little grain, and when cold weather
comes on give them plenty of grain IN
| til they are to months old, and then
turn the whole of the sides into bacon
for the family table. As long as this
bacon lasts the pork barrel will not be
troubled much. The little hams and
shoulders are dainty for homo use. The
SOW which rears these pigs shouldsbe kept
Over-any old sow can rear two filters in
one season, as the period of CESSATION is
but four months.